Boxer&#39;s head guard



March 27, 1951 M. H. YEALDHALL 2,546,342

BOXERS HEAD GUARD Filed Sept. 20, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

MAHLON HARVEY YE AL DHALL.

M LM.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 27,v 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

3.5415342 Boxmus Gu ana Mahlon Harvey Yealdhall, Baltimore, Md. Application September 20, 1949. 'Serial No.1'16,6'90

1 Claim.

This invention relates 'to helmets and the like and more particmarly to head gear employable by players in games requiring considerable athletic'ability and having a tendency to unbalance one or the other of the players so that their heads may come into striking contact with the ground or fioor on which theyare operating.

There are various helmets designed and usable for such games as football, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, polo and others commonly played in civilized countries with bats and balls. The object of the helmet is in most cases to lessen the concussion of the bats or bat against the head of the player'should it be hit either by accident or otherwise, and prevent serious injury to him. The helmet is worn like a hat and usually strapped in place to keep it securely fastened to the head of the user. Each helmet is designed for use in its specific game or athletic event, and counteracts the blows administered to the parts of the head most subject to be hit during the game as ordinarily played. This area is mostly at the side or front of the head to meet the onslaughts of the oncoming players opposing each other. For fighting or boxing events nothing is especially provided for the fighters in the form of a helmet except in practice bouts, because it is the purpose and intent of the opponents to strike each other on the head and cause disability from the effect, by dulling the brain, or disorganizing the skull structure and facial senses. However, a difficulty that has caused considered disturbance is brought about by the fact that in many instances the fighter is unbalanced and sent backwards so as to fall and strike the back of his head against the platform or floor on which he is fighting. In doing so, his head hits the floor with such force as to knock him unconscious and perhaps induce his death. This is considered more or less accidental and not due to the rules and direct effects of the game of boxing, and therefore not objectionable. The skill of the fighters is not considered to be an official element of the accident and therefore no merit attaches itself to the uninjured fighter because of it. The purpose of the officials of the sport is to render the fighting a test of the skill of the opponents rather than through an accident. Further it is desirable that the sport does not have fatal results, as that enters into a stage of brutality that is not favorably appreciated by the sporting or law enforcement classes of this country. Further the fighter is not supposed to abnormally risk his life in the sport for the value he derives from it. It is of course a matter of some'concern to sanction the use of any equipment that will interfere with the normal usages of the boxing or fighting. In protecting the head of the player or fighter, any device used must meet requirements that avoid this interference to the satisfaction of the fighting associa'tions and its fighters, yet at the same time be capable of preventing fatal injuries from falls where the back of the head strikes the floor. This invention appreciates these conditions and provides a head-gear unit that may be attached easily to the head'of theuser and have a cushion located where it will protect the cerebrum and cerebellum "against such falls.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved head gear unit for fighters or boxers that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the previous art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved headgear for fighters that will cushion the head against backward falls against the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved head gear for fighters that will protect the head of the user against injury to the cerebellum and cerebrum and do so without breaking the rules and requirements for legitimate fighting.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully described.

For a clearer understanding of the invention, its objects and the principles thereof, reference is made to the appended drawings. These drawings in conjunction with the following description outline a particular form of the invention by way of example (not of limitation) and exhibit a structure embodying its important features,

while the claim emphasizes the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a headgear unit shown mounted on a fighter in the way ordinarily used, and embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the headgear unit shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 3.

Similar reference numerals relate to the same parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings, the structure of the headgear unit consists of a semi-circular band In ofribbon width adapted to engage around the head ll 01' the user on a level aligned with the hair line above the forehead. The band It! supports a membrane bag I2 extending from it down towards the neck I 3 of the user so as to cover the area [5 surrounding the cerebrum and cerebellum and hair from the ears M to the juncture of the spinal column. This area is somewhat apexed and gives the membrane bag a semi-triangular form. The membrane bag I2 contains a pad N5 of resilient material such as sponge rubber and forms a cushion for the back of the head. A head strap l1 rises from the middle of band I0 and is adapted to reach over the top of the head from the front of the band to the rear portion over the cushion, as indicated. The band and strap I! are preferably of resilient material so they can stretch to fit difl'erent size heads and. hold themselves securely in place. The manner of stitching or attaching the strap, band and membrane together may be of any conventional form as shown at 2U. This should preferably be done without causing a lump on the inside surface of the device that contacts the head. The membrane is tailored to snugly fit the back of the head at all times, when it is in place. This is to prevent its flapping during use. The manner of mounting the headgear unit is apparent from the drawings. The band In in front may be made inconspicuous by having it of a suitable color. Likewise the cushion may have its covering membrane colored to match the hair of the user. In this way there will be less chance for the device to detract the fighters from givin proper concentration to the fighting and draw too much attention to the device. The material can be light in weight as lon as it is made strong enough to withstand hard usage.

When a fighter falls on his back and strikes his head against the floor, the cushion takes up the force of the blow and renders it relatively harmless to him, or at least prevents him from 4 being knocked unconscious or killed by it. It is of course not new to provide devices of some kind for fighters to prevent excessive injury. For example, a mouthpiece of rubber is approved and in common use for protecting the teeth. This device is more important, as it is intended to prevent the untimely death of a fighter when knocked to the floor.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specifications, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A head protector comprising a semi-circular band of resilient material encompassing the forehead of the wearer, asemi-circular membrane bag secured to the ends of said band at points substantially above the ears of the wearer, said bag extending downwardly from its points of attachment to said band to an apex substantially at the neck of the wearer, a resilient cushion in said bag, and a resilient band connecting the median portion of said band with the upper median portion of said bag and extending across the head of the wearer.

MAHLON HARVEY YEALDHALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 532,567 Larwood, Jr Jan. 15, 1895 1,375,845 Horan Apr. 26, 1921 2,391,335 O'Brien Dec. 18, 1945 

